The NIV 365 Day Devotional
Coming Home to Your Father
But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Galatians 4:4-5
Have you ever wondered…
What it means to be a child of God?
If you’ve run too far to come home?
Read: Romans 8:15–16; Luke 15:11–32; 2 Corinthians 6:18
When you hold up your arms to your heavenly Father, he reaches down to scoop you up. These passages remind us that accepting God’s gift of salvation is not a formal business deal. It’s the picture of a father welcoming home his rebellious child, just like the story of the lost son in Luke 15:11–32.
Just like the ungrateful son, we have run far from God. At some point in our lives, we’ve tried to live on our own, apart from him. We packed a knapsack, bought a bus ticket, and took off for the lights of the city. Somehow, the plan didn’t work out as we expected. But God, your Father, was waiting up for you when you came home.
With joy in his eyes, God adopted you as soon as you held up your arms to him. He’s your Abba Father. It doesn’t matter how far you’ve run or how long you’ve been gone. His love doesn’t change. You are his child.
Some personal applications:
- When do you become a child of God?
- What does it mean to you that God is your Father?
- How can you approach God as his child?
When we come to Christ, God not only forgives us, he also adopts us. It would be enough if God just cleansed your name, but he does more. He gives you his name. It would be enough if God just set you free, but he does more. He takes you home. He takes you home to the great house of God.
Taken from The NIV Lucado Encouraging Word Bible.